Campaign for the vote to elect new President gathers momentum

A four-cornered battle for the presidency in Sri Lanka gained momentum on  Sunday with the campaign for votes intensifying and a string of meetings among political parties scheduled for the day.

The campaign has generated interest with Sri Lankans, both in the country and overseas expressing their views via social media showing support for candidates and calling members of Parliament to heed their requests.

Acting President Ranil Wickremesinghe,  SJB Leader Sajith Premadasa, JVP Leader Anura Kumara Dissanayake and SLPP member Dullas Alahapperuma are set to hand over their nominations on July 19 -  a day ahead of the vote in Parliament. 

Mr Alahapperuma explaining the decision to contest said  his intention to run for the presidency is, “to form an actual consensual government for the first time in our history, with the inclusion of main opposition and all other opposing parties, to put an end to the deceitful political culture, that clouded our nation for ages.”

However, several of his members already have expressed support for Mr Wickremesinghe. The decision of Alahapperuma to contest is set to create a division in the SLPP votes.

The 10 political parties, including Udaya Gammanpila, Wimal Weerawansa, and Vasudeva Nanayakkara, claimed they would take a final decision after discussions with the candidates on their demands. 

A rift between the SLPP Chairman G.L. Peiris and the Party General Secretary Sagara Kariyawasam has come to the public with Prof Peiris challenging Kariyawasam on his announcement that the SLPP was going to support Mr Wickremesinghe. 

However, Mr Kariyawasam defended the position saying Prof Peiris has not been aware of some of the decisions taken by the party. Several parties have also decided on the vote pending the outcome of the discussions.

In a related development, the Ministry of Public Security has been advised to provide security for all the MPs coming for the vote.  Members from the outstations have been advised to arrive in Colombo on the previous day.

Heavy security is to be deployed ahead of the nominations and the vote.